Snubber



G. C. BRADFORD SNUBBER Filed May a, 1922 Patented Aug, 5, 1924.

UNITED "STATES GLEN C. BRADFORD, OIF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

SNUBBER.

Application iled May 8, 1922. Serial No. 559,380.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that GLEN C. BRADFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snubbers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in snubbers and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character adapted to be interposed between an axle and frame of a vehicle and which is at all times under such tension to prevent sudden rebound of the vehicle spring and thereby substantially eliminate the possibility of the breaking of the spring.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel and improved device of this general character which, when applied, in no way interferes with the action of a conventional spring but on the contrary readily permits such springto function in its usual way at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which functions to advantage in connection with shocks or jars of all kinds from the slightest road ripple to the racking jounce of the unexpected deep rut.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and ar rangement of the several parts of my improved snubber whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be denitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a snubber constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied posi tion, and

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 2 -2 of Figure 1.

1n practice it is to be understood that any number of my improved snubbers may be employed as the requirement of practice may necessitate but for the purpose of disclosure only one of the devices is herein described and illustrated.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, F denotes a fragment of a vehicle chassis or frame below which is positioned an axle A, said frame F and axle A being connected in a conventional manner by springs (not shown).

B denotes a bracket or hanger substantially U-shaped in form and which has one of its side arms or legs 1 of a length greater than the other and terminating in an outwardly and laterally directed arm 2. The arm 2 has its free extremity provided with an inwardly facing hook member 3 which straddles the free edge of the upper flange 4t of the side member of the frame F. Disposed through both of the side arms 1 of the bracket or hanger B and at a point in close proximity to the shorter of said arms is a bolt 5, said bolt extending beyond the longer side arm and terminating in an inwardly facing hook which straddles the free edge of the lower flange 6 of the member or beam of the frame. The opposite end portion of the bolt has threaded thereon a clamping nut 7 which contacts with the shorter side arm of the hanger or bracket B and operates in a manner to effect a secure mounting of the bracket or hanger B to the frame F.

Freely mounted upon the bolt 5 between the side arms 1 of the hanger or bracket B is a sleeve S, the extremities of said sleeve having extensions 9 which are engaged within the openings 10 provided in the side arms 1 of the hanger or bracket B. Mounted upon the extensions 9 is a case 11 of requisite dimensions.

he portion of the sleeve 8 adjacent the inner face or side wall of the case 11 is reduced in diameter as at 'i2 and rotatably mounted upon said reduced portion 12 is the hub 14 of a disk 15. Secured to the inner face of the disk 15 is a spiral cam i6 having its high point a adjacent to the periph ery of the disk 15 and its low point b in relatively close proximity to the axial center of said disk. The cam 16 as herein disclosed extends substantially three-fourths way around the disk 15 although l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this length as the cam may be of any length which fully complies with the requirements of practice.

The outer or peripheral face of the cam 16 is grooved as at 17 to receive the flexible member or cable 18, said cable extending within the case 11 through an opening 19 suitably provided in the wall of saidV case. The member or cable 18 overlies the high end a of the cam 16 and said extremity of the member or cable 18 is held to the disk 15 by the clamp 2O under control of the nut 21.

The member or cable 18 extends down wardly and is adjustably connected with the axle A by the boltI 21. The bolt 21, as here*- in disclosed, is disposed through the clips 22 engaged with opposite sides of the axle A. and threaded on one end portion of the bolt 21 and co-acting with a clip 22 is a nut 28 operating to assure the proper grip of the bolt 21 upon the member or cable 19.

S denotes a spring having a double coil 24 surrounding the sleeve 8 outwardly of the disk 15, one extremity of the spring being extended to provide an arm 25 which extends through an opening 26 in the case 11 and terminates in a hook 27 engaging the intermediate portion 28 of the hanger or bracket B. The second terminal of the spring S is extended to provide an arm 29 which is provided with a hook 8O engaging an outstanding pin 31 carried by the disk 15 in close proximity to the high point a of the cam 16.

With my improved snubber applied. as the springs of the vehicle are compressed, the disk 15 under the influence of the spring S will revolve in a direction to maintain the flexble member or cable 19 taut at all times and as the body of the vehicle rebounds, the disk 15 turns in the opposite direction, the co-action of the cam 16 with the flexible member or cable 19 maintaining the same or equal tension at all times. 1n other words, because of the distance from the center of the spindle bolt 5 to the outer line of the cam, at all points, the spring tension will be the same at all times.

From the foregoing description it is thought t0 be obvious that a snubber constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing fromv the principles and spi it thereof and for this reason 1 do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. 1n combination with two members of a vehicle, one of said members constituting the frame of a vehicle and the other an axle, a snubber comprising a circular disk rotatably supported by one of the members and provided on one side inwardly of its peripheral edge with a spiral cam having a groove in its peripheral surface, the high point of the cam being normally above the axis of the disk and the lower point being normally below said axis, a spring at the other side of the disk placed under tension by rotation 0f the disk in one direction to rotate the disk in the opposite direction, and a flexible member secured to the disk and to the second member, said flexible member engaging in the groove in the peripheral surrace of the cam.

2. A snubber of the class described comprising a substantially U-shaped hanger, a side member of the hanger having a lateral extension provided with an inwardly facing hook to engage the frame vof a vehicle, a bolt disposed through both of the arms of the hanger and provided with an inwardly facing hook to engage the frame of the vehicle, a clamping member engaged with said bolt and co-acting with a side arm of the hanger to hold the hanger to the frame, and shock absorbing mechanism supported by the hanger including a member rotatable *aboutv the bolt.

3. A snubber of the character described comprising a substantially U-shaped hanger having one arm of considerably greater length than the other and terminating in a lateral extension adapted to engage over a vehicle frame bar and formed with a hook engaging the upper flange of the bar, a bolt passing through both arms of said hanger and adapted to extend beneath the lower flange of the frame bar with one end terminating in a hook engaging the edge of the bar, a nut on the other end of said bolt for effecting clamping action, a cam disk rotatably mounted on the bolt, a casing carried by the hanger, a spring within the casing for urging the disk in one direction, and alexible member secured to and engaged upon the disk at one end and having its other end connected with an axle of the vehicle.

et. 1n a snubber of the character described,l

a U-shaped hanger having one arm longer than the other, the longer arm being formed with a lateral extension adapted to engage upon the top of a vehicle frame bar and terminating in a hook engaging the upper edge of the bar, a bolt passing through both arms of the hanger and adapted to beY disposed beneath the frame bar with one end terminating in a hook engaging the lower edge thereof and its other end carrying a clamping nut, a sleeve mounted on said bolt and formed with reduced extensions, said arms having openings receiving 'said extensions, a casing located within the hanger and having opposite sides formed with openings through which said extensions pass, a cam disk rotatable on said sleeve, a spring opposing rotation oit' said disk in one direction and a flexible member having one end engaged upon and secured to said disk with its other end connected with an axle of the vehicle.

5. In a snubber of the character described including shock absorbing mechanism carried by a vehicle frame and embodying a flexible member, means for connecting the flexible member to an axle comprising a pair of clips disposed against opposite sides of the axle and recessed for engagement upon the oppositely extending lower ilanges there of, one clip being formed With a groove, a bolt passing through both clips and engaged beneath the axle, said bolt having an opening through which the flexible member is passed and said flexible member lying Within said groove, and a nut on said bolt for holding the clips against the axle and for securing the flexible member With respect to one clip.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alix my signature GLEN C` BRADFORD 

